Date: January 7th 2007

Jan 5, 2007

Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/2087

Kim Newton Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala 256-544-0034

CONTRACT RELEASE: C07-002

NASA EXTENDS ARES I DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala - NASA has authorized a contract action having a value of $48 million with ATK Thiokol of Brigham City, Utah, to continue design and development of the first stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle

Ares I will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle and its crew of up to six astronauts, or other small cargo payloads, to low-Earth orbit The first stage will consist of a single reusable solid rocket booster and motor similar to those used on the space shuttle, but with a fifth motor segment added The upper stage will consist of a J-2X liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine and the associated propellant tanks and fuel distribution systems

This Ares I first stage contract action will increase a first stage task under an existing shuttle contract by $48 million for a total work effort valued at $111 million These activities are a preparatory effort leading up to the Ares I first stage prime contract, which will be awarded in the February 2007 timeframe

The contract action maintains the design, development, test and evaluation schedule; expedites the procurement of new nozzle metal hardware and production tooling for propellant casting and nozzle fabrication; maintains the necessary design and engineering analysis; and continues participation in pilot parachute development tests The action also provides support for an initial test flight in the spring of 2009 known as Ares I-1 and provides support for Ares I-1 in preparation for Preliminary Design Review The test flight will use a simulated fifth segment on the first stage and a simulated upper stage

For more information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/constellation

-end-

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